Here, a 150-year-old natural drinking water project satiates the thirst of over 25,000 citizens of Sawantwadi, apart from serving as the habitat of a fragile ecosystem.
Even as the rest of the state celebrates Maharashtra Day, about 500 kilometres from Mumbai, villagers in Konkan's mining hotbed Sindhudurg district will mark the historic occasion with a day-long collective fast in protest against a controversial Rs1000 crore proposal to mine iron ore from a mountain rich with fresh water springs.
Here, a 150-year-old natural drinking water project satiates the thirst of over 25,000 citizens of Sawantwadi, apart from serving as the habitat of a fragile ecosystem.
Close to a hundred local residents from at least eight villages in the 20km radius of the mountain — including Kesari Fansavde, Amboli, Verle, Kalmist, Markol, Kalivde, Danoli — are expected to participate in the agitation. Organised by the Sindhudurg-based Lok Shikshan Samiti, the protest will see the villagers gather around the statue of widely-regarded former administrator Bapusaheb Maharaj, and fast for the entire day.
Nakul Parsekar of the Lok Shikshan Samiti said that the fast was an effort to bring the attention of the administration to the local opposition for the project, which has been kept in cold storage due to the Gadgil Committee report, but is likely to be revived in October.
"This project is one of the 49 proposed for the entire district. If the project is revived, at least 75,000 trees will have to be felled and the rich bio-diversity of the region will be lost, apart from the damage to the historic natural drinking water project," explained Parsekar.
The illegal Kalne Iron ore mines 30km away have contributed to several deaths due to reckless driving by dumper drivers.
"We are opposed to all projects that damage the environment and affect locals adversely. Our hope is that on Maharashtra Day, the administration will pay heed to us," he added.
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